Dynamic top order batsman Chris Lynn is eager to display more of his skill with the bat in hand for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Lynn was his team’s best batsman last year scoring 454 runs at an average of 45.4 and recording a highest score of 86 from his 12 matches. Those stats helped the three-time runners up reach the final against eventual winners Jamaica Tallawahs.
Despite the undisputed talent the player possess, his career at international level for his native Australia has been curtailed due to injuries when he seems to be in top form.
At this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) Lynn’s participation was hammered playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders as he suffered a shoulder injury while fielding.
He had started that tournament in blazing form, cracking a 41-ball for 93 runs which was inclusive of eight sixes and six fours against the Gujarat Lions in his first match.
“My personal preparation is going really well as I said I’ve had time to freshen up and now I’m starting my training campaign for the CPL. The body is feeling really well after my shoulder concerns. I’ve worked my backside off to get back to where I want to be”, Lynn said in an interview with this publication.
He added, “after a couple of weeks break from the IPL and ICC Champions Trophy I’m feeling refreshed and can’t wait to get back to Guyana”.
According to ‘Lynny’ as he is fondly referred to by teammates, the plan is the same as the previous years; score runs and help win matches.
“My goal this year is to back up my season last year and to be the leading run scorer again. Traditionally scores are fairly low at Guyana so to be leading run scorer with four home games there I thought was a great achievement so the goal is to back that up and go one better as a team this year”, he contended.
Though Lynn is becoming one of the globetrotting names in T20 Cricket, he admitted there is a sense of pride to wear the Amazon Warriors jersey.
He explained, “Playing for GAW [Guyana Amazon Warriors] is a bloody wonderful privilege. The pride that the players put into that jersey is something that has stood out to me and for me personally. Playing in Guyana is the total opposite conditions to what I have been brought up on, so I have really enjoyed taking up that challenge to do well”.
Commenting on the composition of squad, the Queenslander is happy that the core remains the same. “Not too many changes which is always a good sign. Obviously I lose my best mate Zamps [Adam Zampa] but in saying that I am looking forward to playing with Rashid Khan”.
Responding to question on how to break the title jinx, the right-handed batsman felt there is not much to change. “I don’t think I’ll be doing much different to last year. We had a very successful campaign. At the start of the tournament if you said that we would have come second I think nearly everyone would take that. We lost our way in the final but that happens in the game of T20 cricket so hopefully the luck of the bounce goes our way this year”.
“We are a very driven team and are led by some quality coaches but the best thing is that we had a lot of fun along the way and grew as cricketers but mainly as men”.
Lynn is also looking to return to Florida where Guyana won both of their matches last year against the Barbados Trident. He hopes that the history can spark them to start their campaign on winning note when they play St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots on August 5.
The fifth edition of the league will run from August 4 to September 9 and the Warriors will have four home matches from August 17 to 22nd.
On the 17th they play the Jamaica Tallawahs followed by a match against arch rivals Trinbago Knight Riders two days later. The Warriors then clash against Barbados Tridents on the 20th and then have their final home match against the St Lucia Zouks on the 22nd. (Akeem Greene)
